Michigan’s defense did more than enough to give the Wolverines a real shot at beating Iowa. The problem was that a few ugly breaks, at least one costly penalty and a late call that will be argued all week washed away a lot of the good work.
That’s why this game deserves a closer look than the final score alone provides. Michigan spent much of Saturday afternoon in control, limiting what Iowa could do for long stretches and helping keep the offense in a position to keep building. Jay Hill’s group still flashed the kind of ceiling that makes it dangerous, but the mistakes at the wrong moments were enough to swing everything.
Pro Football Focus tells a fuller version of the story, and on this day the numbers point to a defense that was strong overall even if the ending turned sour.
Zeke Berry was one of the best players on the field for Michigan before the game’s final sequence made him part of the heartbreak. Back after missing Week 3, the cornerback played 32 snaps and spent 25 of them in coverage.
He lined up outside on 27 snaps, with four in the slot and one in the box. Iowa threw at him seven times, and he gave up only three catches for 15 yards.
But the play people will remember most is the late hit that handed Iowa 15 yards and a first down when it should’ve been 4th and 12 on the final drive.
Dom Nichols was just as important, and maybe even more impressive considering he clearly wasn’t at full strength. He got through 47 snaps despite a nagging injury that forced him out a couple of times, and he still finished with the second-best defensive grade on the team.
His 81.8 pass-rush grade led Michigan, though he did miss a tackle. Even with that blemish, he keeps looking like the Wolverines’ most reliable defender.
Chris Bracy also made his presence felt. The Memphis transfer played 54 snaps and was used on two designed blitzes, both of which earned a 91.6 pass-rush grade and were charted as hurries. Bracy missed a tackle and later dropped what would have been the game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter, another moment that hung over the finish.
One of the more encouraging signs came from Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. He posted the highest defensive grade on the team at 79.9, but he played only 10 snaps, which kept him out of the top-three list.
Still, that kind of showing matters for a linebacker who is still trying to establish himself. Teammates call him “Wu,” and he showed the athleticism that could earn him more chances after a tape like this.
The missed tackles were another part of the night Michigan will have to clean up. The defense was charged with seven in all, with Dom Nichols, Chris Bracy, Nathaniel Staehling, Enow Etta and Mason Curtis each missing one. Jyaire Hill was tagged for two.
Michigan’s defense was good enough to win on Saturday. The trouble was that the details at the end made sure that won’t be the part most people remember.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Will Be Second Guessing One Late Coaching Choice
Michigans one-point loss to Iowa was the kind of game that leaves a fan base replaying the final minutes over and over. The Wolverines had their chances in a 20-19 defeat, but the closing sequence is likely to be the part that lingers most, especially with the offense leaning on the run game when the game was hanging in the balance.
The biggest talking point is the late decision to run the ball three straight times, a choice the article attributes to head coach Kyle Whittingham. It is the sort of call that can look sensible in the moment and frustrating in hindsight, and for Michigan it now sits at the center of what went wrong in a game that slipped away by the slimmest of margins. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Loss To Iowa Looks Even Worse After One Brutal Reality
Michigans 20-19 loss to Iowa had all the markings of one of those frustrating afternoons that sticks with a fan base long after the final whistle. The Wolverines controlled plenty of the underlying numbers and even posted a higher success rate, but the scoreboard told a far less forgiving story, one shaped by missed chances and a game that slipped away despite the statistical edge.
Iowas special teams helped tilt the night with a kickoff return for a touchdown, and Michigan did not make enough of its own opportunities in the red zone to compensate. An interception and a failed fourth-down try inside scoring range loomed especially large in a one-point game, turning what looked like a solid performance on paper into a loss that feels even harder to explain in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Finally Has A New Offensive Line Question To Solve
After the bruising Iowa game, Michigans injury report offered a little bit of movement along a unit that has been searching for stability all season. Kyle Whittingham said John Henry Daleys situation is still murky for now, but there should be a clearer read by Wednesday, while offensive lineman Andrew Babalola is on track to begin practicing next week after sitting out the first four games with a knee injury.
Andrew Spragues status at right tackle is still being evaluated, leaving the Wolverines with another front-line question to sort through as they turn the page. For a team that has already had to adjust on the offensive line, Babalolas return could become a timely piece of the puzzle, even if the full answer on who is available up front is still not in hand. [Read more 🡒]